Sometimes, discontent employees engage in passive-aggressive behavior, such as damaging company property instead of talking about their issue so it can be addressed. One obvious answer to stop sabotage is to install surveillance cameras. However, that isn't an option when the sabotage consists of someone who repeatedly slings liquid soap all over the bathroom floor.
One plant engineer, tired of wasting maintenance resources on sabotage repair, brought the problem up in a staff meeting. He suggested that the person purposely spilling the soap either felt afraid to speak up or did not feel heard when they did. He asked the production managers to consider this to be the root cause and to find a way to solve it.
Once supervisors and managers began asking production workers about their frustrations, listening to the responses, and then showing they cared by solving this or that frustration, the sabotage stopped.
About the Author
Mark LamendolaMark Lamendola
Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.
Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.
Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.